Urban Meyer, Other College Football Coaches Cash In On End-Of-Season Bonuses

Meyer could have earned $250,000 if OSU finished one spot higher in the AP poll

Ohio State football coach Urban Meyer "nearly made $100,000" from Notre Dame's loss to Alabama in the Discover BCS National Championship, according to Darren Rovell of ESPN.com. The blowout gave Ohio State a "chance to slip into the No. 2 spot" in the final AP poll. Meyer's amended contract states that if the team "finished in the top two, he'd get $250,000." But the final vote left Ohio State at No. 3 "and Meyer -- who makes $4 million a year -- with a $150,000 bonus." The top bonus "unsurprisingly goes to" Alabama coach Nick Saban, who will "get a $200,000 bonus for finishing No. 1, on top of the $110,000 bonus he got for getting his team to the game." Georgia's Mark Richt "missed out on a bevy of potential bonuses after a loss to Alabama in the SEC title game." Richt will "get a $100,000 bonus." Staying in the top 10 means Florida coach Will Muschamp will "get a $50,000 bonus." Florida State secured coach Jimbo Fisher "a $50,000 bonus." Oregon's Chip Kelly gets an "automatic one-year extension worth at least $4 million for having at least 11 wins." The "other big winner" was South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier, whose 11th win "equals a $200,000 bonus." Kansas State's Bill Snyder "will pick up $50,000 instead of a top-10 $100,000 bonus." Louisville coach Charlie Strong gets "a $25,000 bonus" (ESPN.com, 1/8).